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(No Model.)

G. H. FOX.

Y LUCK PoR PIRE ARMS. No. 255,274. Patented Mar; 21,1882.

N. PETEH& Phub-Liibogrlpher. Wnhingion, 'SLC` GEORGE H. FOX,

PATENT Ormea.. t

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSlGNOIt TO THE AMERI- CAN ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLAGE.

LOCK FOR FIRE-ARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,274, dated March `21, 1882. Application filed March V5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. FOX, a citizen of the United States,residing at- Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gun-locks for breechloadin g firearms; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination ot' parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The drawings represent, in Figure l, a verti cal longitudinal section of a gun-stock contaiti ing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan with the top snap-lever thrown to one side, showing the position of the hammer within the stock or lock-chamber. Fig. 3 is a side view ot' the hammer, and Fig. 4 a cross-section through the intermediate locking-shaft.

A in the drawings represents part of the stock of a top snap-action breech-loading firearm. B is the hammer, C, the hammer-lever, by means of which the hammer is actu-4 ated, either cocked or uncooked. This lever, as shown in the drawings, lies closely to the side of the stock, and is so situated that the hand is in the usual position vfor firing when cooking the piece, and the pressure of the thumb on the lever on either side, provided one has double bar1els,is sufficient to cock the piece without removing the forefin ger from the trigger. The hammer B is securely fastened on a movable pin or shaft, j, passing through the lock-plates, which pin has on its extreme end the lever C. On the rear side of this hamv mer is formed a curved hook, g, which catches upon a pin or stud, j', formed on the side of the middle part of a stirrup, d. The upper end of said stirrup enga-ges with the operating end of' the mainspring H, and the lower end of said stirrup is curved to form an upwardly-turned hook, d', which catches against a fixed stop- 5o pin,j".

G designates the trigger. h designates the spring which forces the same into engagement with tumbler, and a designates the triggerguard. cock, after driving the firing-pin into the cartridge, is caused partly by the weight of' lever C acting on shaft j, and partly by the nose of trigger G as it is forced against the suitably inclined forward part of the bottom ofthe ham- 6o incr-tumbler. To allow this rebound it is of course necessary that the operation of the mainspring should be checked before the hammer completes its forward movement. This has hitherto usually been done by arranging a stop above the mainspring, so that the latter will strike against it. I however effect the same result by arranging my stop j" above thelower end of the stirrup el and shaping said lower end of the stirrup into a hook, which will engage 7o therewith.4 The shock and the wear are thus transferred from the mainspring to the stirrnp. In ordinary top snap-action breechloading fire-arms it is usual to have the arrangement shown in the drawings Fig. c, theintermediate shaft, E, with eccentric stud fi for actuating the catch F, and the spring e for keeping the bolt in its locking position except when moved by the handlever c-or a combination very nearly the same. Now, one great 8o objection heretofore is in the shape of the shaft E, which is usually made with two arms to allow of the passage ofthe ringpin in a rectilinear path of movement, and at the same time of the rotary motion ing -or unlocking the barrels. XVhile this form of bolt accomplished this purpose, still it was expensive in manufacture and occupied much space. Iii-my present improvement, as shown,

the shaftE is made straight and full in its en- 9o tire length, thereby retaining its strength, or the same strength with less metal, as it has no elbows or offsets. Through it Idrill a hole at right angles tothe axis of its movement. This is for the tiring-pin, and then in order to ob 95 tain free and unobstructed passage of' the pin through lthe shaft at the same time that I procure rotary motion ofthe shaft I cut away the The rebound of' the hammer to half- 55 l--viz the lever of nl@ shaft, E while ks5` latter in the manner shown in Fig. 4, making the slots b b on either side ofthe firing-pin sufioient to allow for the extreme movement of the shaft E and lever c. The shaft portion of' the above arrangement is made much simpler bythe latter improvement, and fully as efficient.

Having thus described my invention, what; I claim7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination ot'stirrup d, having hook d on its lower end, with stop-pinf, arranged to beengaged by said hook, mainspring H, operating to lift said stirrup, and hammer B, provided with a hook, which catches against a 15 stud on said stirrup, substantially as sel: forth.

2. In combination with a tiring-pin operating in axial align ment with the bore of the barrel or barrels, avertical top-snap looking-shaft, said shaft being constructed with a passage 2o for said firing-pin to play through.

In testimony Whereofl affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Y GEO. II. FOX. Witnesses:

H. E. LODGE,

F. G. SlMPsoN. 

